Short man’s anxiety

[DRBrothers]

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6’+ seem to be prevalent among residents and attendings. As a short male (fresh green R1 BTW) when standing, people seem subconsciously overlook you, as if you were contagious to their eyes, or didn't exist. I am not talking about casual settings. When you are conscious about exclusion, how do you get the better of the anxiety and stay present / focus?

 

[BicepsTriceps]

If you can't go tall go wide.
Bulk up lol.

... it's all in your head, this is not a thing..

 

[evilbooyaa]

lmao

maybe I just have tall privilege but I laughed at this. Be confident, don't get angry easily (otherwise people will say you have napoleon syndrome), and be good. Height is just a number in the professional workplace.

 

[TheIllusionist]

you sound like you have more issues than just height. buy lifts, workout, and grow a beard. most importantly, seek counseling

 

[TraumaLlamaMD]

If people are ignoring you it’s because you’re an intern, not because of your height. Take it from a short surgeon!

 

[Piebaldi]

6’+ seem to be prevalent among residents and attendings. As a short male (fresh green R1 BTW) when standing, people seem subconsciously overlook you, as if you were contagious to their eyes, or didn't exist. I am not talking about casual settings. When you are conscious about exclusion, how do you get the better of the anxiety and stay present / focus?

Meh, I'm a short 5'0 female. I do have to be more forceful to be heard. I have to admit it is a bit intimidating when I am in a crowd of tall physician males. It depends what you consider "short" - if you are talking 5'2 maybe if you are talking 5'9 and above, I'd say you are more than fine.

 

[Raryn]

Meh, I'm a short 5'0 female. I do have to be more forceful to be heard. I have to admit it is a bit intimidating when I am in a crowd of tall physician males. It depends what you consider "short" - if you are talking 5'2 maybe if you are talking 5'9 and above, I'd say you are more than fine.

The average adult male height in the United States is 5'9. That's quite literally "normal", not short.

 

[Piebaldi]

The average adult male height in the United States is 5'9. That's quite literally "normal", not short.

Ok.

 

[PGY1RESIDENTLOVESMEDICINE]

🙂 Sometimes we don't realize what others are thinking. To be honest, when I see short men, I always think "Man, he's smart." I don't know why. Lol

 

[Mad Jack]

Some of the best doctors I've worked with weren't particularly tall. This is definitely all in your head

 

[KnuxNole]

I'm 5'5, and I round with residents who are over 6 feet tall, in fact one time the senior, intern and AI were about a foot taller compared to myself and people thought I was the student on the team. And there is no issues in terms to taking charge either. Like others said I think this is in your head.

 

[Synchronous]

The only time height is an issue is when it’s time to adjust the OR table to whats comfortable.

 

[anonperson]

6’+ seem to be prevalent among residents and attendings. As a short male (fresh green R1 BTW) when standing, people seem subconsciously overlook you, as if you were contagious to their eyes, or didn't exist. I am not talking about casual settings. When you are conscious about exclusion, how do you get the better of the anxiety and stay present / focus?

People overlook you because you're a useless intern.

One of the most prolific and well known urologists where I did fellowship was probably 5ft 2in. Everyone listened and respected him.

 

[Piebaldi]

People overlook you because you're a useless intern.

One of the most prolific and well known urologists where I did fellowship was probably 5ft 2in. Everyone listened and respected him.

I respectfully disagree. I do definitely agree with OP that those of us who are shorter tend to be looked down upon - no pun intended - at least initially. Not to say that once people work with us and are able to see us as equals it's an ongoing/long term thing, but at least initially, I would say it's definitely a thing.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

You a midget OP?

 

[DRBrothers]

You a midget OP?

5'4

I respectfully disagree. I do definitely agree with OP that those of us who are shorter tend to be looked down upon - no pun intended - at least initially. Not to say that once people work with us and are able to see us as equals it's an ongoing/long term thing, but at least initially, I would say it's definitely a thing.

Well said

 

[DRBrothers]

Thanks everyone!

 

[Piebaldi]

Thanks everyone!

you'll be fine though 🙂 just be confident and know your stuff -you've made it this far.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

People overlook you because you're a useless intern.

One of the most prolific and well known urologists where I did fellowship was probably 5ft 2in. Everyone listened and respected him.

Man I wish this whole thing was true. I'm very tall and would have loved to be treated better than my shorter colleagues.

 

[Piebaldi]

Man I wish this whole thing was true. I'm very tall and would have loved to be treated better than my shorter colleagues.

Most people have "tall privilege" - those of us who are short don't.

 

[BoardingDoc]

Most people have "tall privilege" - those of us who are short don't.

"tall privilege":

- random strangers ask you to grab **** off of high shelves in the grocery store for them
- you will never take a comfortable bath.
- vehicles, be them by land, sea or air, are all designed with your discomfort in mind
- joint dysfunction
- ceiling mounted IV poles. I hit my head on one literally every 3 or 4 shifts.
- being limited to one or two stores that will actually make clothes that fit.
- "wow, you must be good at basketball!" (yeah, the same way you're probably good at mini golf)
- I hope you like sleeping in the fetal position, cause you sure as hell aren't straightening out on your couch/bed/whatever.

The list goes on.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

"tall privilege":

- random strangers ask you to grab **** off of high shelves in the grocery store for them
- you will never take a comfortable bath.
- vehicles, be them by land, sea or air, are all designed with your discomfort in mind
- joint dysfunction
- ceiling mounted IV poles. I hit my head on one literally every 3 or 4 shifts.
- being limited to one or two stores that will actually make clothes that fit.
- "wow, you must be good at basketball!" (yeah, the same way you're probably good at mini golf)
- I hope you like sleeping in the fetal position, cause you sure as hell aren't straightening out on your couch/bed/whatever.

The list goes on.

Yep. I love literally not being able to fit in airline seats these days unless I pay extra for more legroom.

I enjoyed recently being at Fenway park and having to twist my legs 75 degrees to even fit in the seat.

I liked having to buy a new car when my kids were born because with car seats in the back I couldn't get in the driver's seat of my existing car anymore.

Getting PT at least once/year to make sure I can run without pain (turns out very tight hamstrings are almost universal in tall men).

 

[rokshana]

I’m 5’ 3 3/4”...sometimes it comes up and people always say I didn’t realize you are that short...it’s how you carry your self...personally I would rather be 5’4” than 6’...with all the traveling I do, I can’t image trying to fit into airplane seats if I was any taller.

 

[Piebaldi]

"tall privilege":

- random strangers ask you to grab **** off of high shelves in the grocery store for them
- you will never take a comfortable bath.
- vehicles, be them by land, sea or air, are all designed with your discomfort in mind
- joint dysfunction
- ceiling mounted IV poles. I hit my head on one literally every 3 or 4 shifts.
- being limited to one or two stores that will actually make clothes that fit.
- "wow, you must be good at basketball!" (yeah, the same way you're probably good at mini golf)
- I hope you like sleeping in the fetal position, cause you sure as hell aren't straightening out on your couch/bed/whatever.

The list goes on.

I literally had someone when I was a resident walking down the hall at the hospital ask me - how tall are you? I was dumbfounded. Then he says something like I'm trying to find out the experiences of people with different heights or short heights or something stupid like that. I was shocked!? I was not even sure how to respond.

And I'd be the stranger asking you for help with the stuff on the tall shelves! Thanks for your assistance! 🙂

 

[Piebaldi]

I’m 5’ 3 3/4”...sometimes it comes up and people always say I didn’t realize you are that short...it’s how you carry your self...personally I would rather be 5’4” than 6’...with all the traveling I do, I can’t image trying to fit into airplane seats any taller.

I'd rather be 5'3-5'4 as a woman than 5'0 but oh well. it is what it is

 

[rokshana]

I'd rather be 5'3-5'4 as a woman than 5'0 but oh well. it is what it is

Voila!

 

[Piebaldi]

Voila!

I do wear heels/pumps, but I don't want to look ridiculous.

 

[Medstudent9]

Yeah, this definitely isn't a thing. As a medical student, my co-student on my ID rotation (cute as a button, maybe 5 feet tall) would literally stand IN FRONT OF me when we would do ward rounds (standing in a circle). I would be overlooked as the tall student because someone was literally standing in front of me.

So, it's not the size... it's how you use it. If you are knowledgeable, everyone will listen to you.

 

[Roxas]

It matters far less than the truly important metrics:

How much land you own and how many partners you've bedded.

 

[dpmd]

"tall privilege":

- random strangers ask you to grab **** off of high shelves in the grocery store for them
- you will never take a comfortable bath.
- vehicles, be them by land, sea or air, are all designed with your discomfort in mind
- joint dysfunction
- ceiling mounted IV poles. I hit my head on one literally every 3 or 4 shifts.
- being limited to one or two stores that will actually make clothes that fit.
- "wow, you must be good at basketball!" (yeah, the same way you're probably good at mini golf)
- I hope you like sleeping in the fetal position, cause you sure as hell aren't straightening out on your couch/bed/whatever.

The list goes on.

There is an absurdly tall scrub tech I work with sometimes. For certain procedures he has to stop to hold the camera where I need it. But for some reason he refuses to sit despite me calling for a sitting stool for him. The super tall female tech has taken me up on the sitting option. But I climb shelves and get my own stuff for the most part (average for a woman at 5'4 here)

 

[Kakoy]

it's all how you carry yourself, which you will learn as a resident!

I am 5 ft, female, and wear dresses at all times but I grew into my role during training (soooo physically not the most intimidating). Be confident, stand up straight, look people in the eyes when you talk, and know what you are talking about. Apparently, I have a very intimidating walk which helped ( my chief told that when I was R2)!

ETA: Oh, apparently I also developed this one eyebrow raised & intense stare which is also apparently intimidating! Maybe practice that? 😉

 

[lazyindy]

Theres always limb lengthening surgery

 

[Piebaldi]

Theres always limb lengthening surgery

Sad to admit I've looked into that!

 

[lazyindy]

Sad to admit I've looked into that!

no shame in looking into it. the stryde 3 nail that was released last year is full weight bearing and offers predictable results. check out limb lengthening forum. Until we figure out a way to reactivate our growth plates to megadose HGH this is our best bet in actually getting taller.

 

[Piebaldi]

no shame in looking into it. the stryde 3 nail that was released last year is full weight bearing and offers predictable results. check out limb lengthening forum. Until we figure out a way to reactivate our growth plates to megadose HGH this is our best bet in actually getting taller.

Well I am a woman so it's not that bad for me, and for my ethnic group, I'm about right in terms of height but for the more mainstream population and given I'm in a more male dominated area, I always feel super short. I looked at the PRECISE system and it seem pretty decent. I have thought about getting the surgery gain a few inches - maybe 3 or 4. it would be nice to not always be the shortest person in the room. ha!

 

[lazyindy]

Well I am a woman so it's not that bad for me, and for my ethnic group, I'm about right in terms of height but for the more mainstream population and given I'm in a more male dominated area, I always feel super short. I looked at the PRECISE system and it seem pretty decent. I have thought about getting the surgery gain a few inches - maybe 3 or 4. it would be nice to not always be the shortest person in the room. ha!

No worries I'm not one to judge the reasons for anyone wanting to change/improve themselves. Research it thoroughly and really know the risks before taking a huge decision. You will also need considerable time off from work.